Sweeping air stream apparatus and method

Abstract

In an automobile air flow system, air is forced through an air outlet element or nozzle (13, 21, 24) in a sweeping air stream pattern by an oscillating reed or vane member (42) supported solely at the downstream end (43) for air initiated oscillatory movement in the flow path of the air from the source; a weight (41) is on the free, upstream end of the vane and is of a size such that the rate of oscillation is determined by the spring constant of a spring in the vane member and the weight. The oscillating vane (42) is proportioned with respect to the cross-sectional size of the outlet such that at any extreme of its oscillatory movement it does not physically contact any other structural member.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an air flow system having a source of air under pressure flowing through a channel coupled to an outlet element and the air is issued to the ambient environment in a sweeping air stream pattern, the improvement comprising an air powered oscillatory member, said oscillatory member being a vane having a longitudinal axis normally aligned with the direction of air flow through said channel, and means securing the downstream end only of said oscillatory member in fixed relation to said outlet element with the upstream end of said oscillatory member being free and oscillatable, solely by air flow, between a pair of extreme positions to each side of said longitudinal axis, said extreme positions being short of contacting said outlet and said channel and causing the air to issue in a sweeping air stream pattern from said outlet element. 
     
     
       2. The invention defined in claim 1 including a weight secured to the free end of said vane. 
     
     
       3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said oscillatory member is a bendable resilient vane and includes means for limiting the bending thereof to an axis transverse to the direction of air flow. 
     
     
       4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said means for limiting the bending of said resilient vane is constituted by a bend in the body of said resilient vane member. 
     
     
       5. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said means securing said downstream end of said vane element includes a mounting assembly bar having a slot formed therein for receiving said downstream end of said resilient vane, said slot having the opposing facing corner edged thereof at the entranceway to said slot rounded and smoothed. 
     
     
       6. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the edges of said resilient vane body member is polished to lengthen the life of said oscillator element. 
     
     
       7. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the end of said weight presents a flat surface transverse to the direction of air flow in said channel. 
     
     
       8. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vane is resilient and is constituted by a pair of spaced apart coil springs and a flexible sheet extending between and carried by said coil springs, respectively, and a weight member carried at the free end of said resilient vane. 
     
     
       9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said flexible sheet is made of an elastomeric material, a pair of tubes formed at each side of said flexible sheet, and one of said coil springs being located in one of said tubes, respectively. 
     
     
       10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said flexible sheet includes upstream and downstream tab extensions, said weight member being secured to the upstream tab extension and upstream ends of said springs, and means securing said downstream tab extension and the downstream ends of said springs together and to said mounting means. 
     
     
       11. In an automobile air flow system wherein a source of air under pressure is forced through a channel to an outlet element and issued therefrom in a sweeping air stream pattern, the improvement and means for causing the sweeping of said air stream comprising, an oscillatory member as defined in claim 1,   means supporting said oscillatory member proximate the center of said outlet element, said oscillatory member being proportioned with respect to the cross-sectional size of said outlet element such that at any extreme of its oscillatory movement in said outlet element it does not physically contact any structural portion of said channel and said outlet element, said oscillatory member being rendered oscillatory solely upon the flow of air from said source through said outlet and causing the air flow to sweep back and forth in said outlet element, said oscillatory member including a spring, and means securing said spring at the downstream end to at least one surface of said outlet element.   
     
     
       12. The invention defined in claim 11 including means to capture said air powered oscillatory member at a selected position in said outlet element to prevent oscillation thereof and cause air to issue from said outlet in a non-sweeping air stream pattern. 
     
     
       13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said means to capture said oscillatory member includes a friction stop, and lever means for adjusting said member to a non-oscillatory position. 
     
     
       14. The invention defined in claim 11 including an impingement member on the free end of said spring and wherein the rate of oscillation of said impingement member is related to the spring constant of said spring, the rate of air flow, and the weight of said impingement member. 
     
     
       15. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said air powered oscillatory member is in the shape of an inverted "T", the free end of the stem of said "T" being the sole point of support for said "T" in the air flow, and being downstream of the cross of said "T". 
     
     
       16. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said air powered oscillatory member is in the shape of an inverted "L", the free end of the stem of said "L" being the sole point of support for said "L" in the air flow and being downstream of the cross of said "L". 
     
     
       17. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said oscillatory member includes means for limiting the bending thereof to an axis transverse to the direction of air flow in said channel. 
     
     
       18. The invention defined in claim 17 including a weight member on the upstream end of said spring wherein the rate of oscillation of said oscillatory member is related to the spring constant of said spring, the rate of air flow and the weight of said weight member. 
     
     
       19. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said spring in said oscillatory member is constituted by a pair of spaced steel coil springs, a flexible sheet extending between and supported by said spaced apart coil springs, and a weight member at the upstream end of said oscillatory member. 
     
     
       20. The invention defined in claim 19 wherein said coil spring pair is embedded in the ends of said flexible sheet. 
     
     
       21. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein said flexible sheet is elastic. 
     
     
       22. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein said flexible sheet is rubber.